As we’ve mentioned
before, JungleMaster places a high priority on partnering with others as we do
God’s work in the jungle. One project currently in progress is a survey of
community leaders in numerous villages along the rivers near Nauta. This
project was born out of a desire, shared by Tom Clark and Joel McGee of JungleMaster,
Laura at the Christian training center in Nauta, and a local pastor, William Sifuentes, to learn more about the
communities they are serving in. Together, they decided on what information they
would include in the survey. Because they wanted to get unbiased information,
they thought it best that the survey be performed by someone other than themselves.
Two students from Oregon, Steven and Daniel Lindstrom, who were looking for a month-long mission project in the jungle
were available and eager to do this, with Joel providing the transportation.
The survey, funded entirely by the students, is helping to gather information
about the needs of everyone in the villages rather than just the Christians
living there. A side benefit for JungleMaster is that Joel is discovering
villages back off the rivers that he wasn’t previously aware of and is visiting
villages he’s never had the opportunity to visit before.

The survey team at work in a village

The story that follows
is an example of God’s help and guidance throughout a very difficult situation
during this survey project. It is evidence that God is holding Joel and the
survey team in His loving hands.

During the second phase of the survey project, Joel, the two
students, and their interpreter had headed 2 hours up the Tigre River and were
surveying villages on their way back down. They were near the junction of the
Tigre and the Marañon Rivers, still around 40-45 miles from Nauta, when, with a
“clickity-clack, bang, crash,” the lower unit of the boat motor froze up, the gears
stripped, and “all things nightmares are made of” happened: They were dead in
the water and at the mercy of the current!

Joel knew there wasn't much that could be done at that point
to fix the boat, but the village of Miraflores was in sight. So, they started
paddling. About halfway there, a man in a canoe with a peci peci motor on it approached
them. He graciously asked if the survey team needed him to tow them down to
Miraflores. When they gratefully accepted, he tied his canoe to their boat. Surprisingly,
in spite of his tiny motor, he was able to move them along at a pretty good
pace.

Being towed by the canoe with the peci peci motor

They successfully got the boat to Miraflores, where Joel was
able to remove the lower unit, but the unit was so badly damaged that repairs
were not possible. The team would have to leave the boat there. How would they
get themselves back to Nauta? There was no one in Miraflores with a fast boat to
take them there. However, they were told that in the next village, about 5
minutes downriver, there was a boat they might be able to hire.

Arriving at the village of Miraflores

JungleMaster's disabled boat at a dock in Miraflores

Thus, the same man who had pushed the survey team downriver
to Miraflores also gave the group a ride toward this next village. On the way,
they spotted a ferry heading down the Marañon. Knowing that this boat would
take them to Nauta, they tried to catch it, but try as they might, the little
canoe was not fast enough. The distance between it and the ferry was quickly
growing. At that point, about halfway into the Marañon River, they saw another
ferry coming. Thank God, they were able to catch this one! And so, the four men
made it safely back to Nauta.

The breakdown of JungleMaster’s boat was a bad situation.
Some might even have considered the trip a failure. But things could have
turned out much worse! In spite of the difficulties, God had Joel and the group
in his loving hands. Joel knew that He would guide them and work things out. God
had a plan, and all would be okay as long as they were walking in that plan.

Since the trip, a
missionary friend arranged for a small ferry to tow JungleMaster’s disabled
boat back to Nauta. The bad news is that the lower unit, which was purchased
used, is in very bad shape at this point and will need to be replaced. (The cost
is $2800.) The good news is that the smaller 115HP motor from JungleMaster’s
original boat is available as a temporary replacement until a new motor is
purchased so that the survey project can proceed.

We at JungleMaster are
thanking God for His loving provision for the group on their trip back to Nauta.
Please pray for His continued physical and spiritual provision as the group
continues the survey and for financial provision for the repairs to the boat.